CEL 17

Hamin interrupted the part-timer’s words, he quickly grabbed the coffee, and left. He had rarely seen such a tactless part-timer. If they were going to give service, shouldn’t it usually be something like cookies? Who gives two cups of coffee?

And the extra words bothered him too.

“Share it with a friend.” Share what with who?

He drained one cup in a gulp and entered the library holding the other. In his sudden irritation, he skipped dinner and just skimmed books until he went home after the sun had completely set.

Normally, as soon as his head hit the pillow he would fall asleep, but tonight he couldn’t. Drinking coffee like water was a habit, so it wasn’t the coffee. It felt like something was bothering his mind… but he couldn’t grasp what it was.

It was troubling to have a lot to do but not be able to sleep. He checked the time and bit his lip, but that didn’t suddenly bring sleep.

Lost in his thoughts, useless ideas floated around.

Should I look over civil law more tomorrow… was this before the amendment of the New Civil Law? Should I take on just two tutoring jobs during vacation?

Those realistic thoughts ended up leading him to recall the face he had been seeing most often recently.

“…Is he that busy?”

It’s just a university festival. How busy could he be, too busy to even eat?

He muttered with a sulky face, then let out a sigh. He actually knew. It wasn’t that Jaeha was too busy to eat, it was that he couldn’t eat with him.

It was strange that he had monopolized someone like Han Jaeha, who was so social, at lunchtime every day. After counting the ceiling patterns for a long time, he admitted it.

Without Jaeha, honestly, he was a bit… bored.

It was a ridiculous complaint considering he still had a long life ahead to live, but that didn’t change anything.

He hadn’t even spent long stretches of time with him, but without those moments of irritation and sudden expressions, life felt dull. To the point he wondered if he was developing Jaeha addiction after phone addiction.

Hamin closed his eyes shut with a miserable feeling at the thought of going through puberty at thirty-nine. He thought it was time for a change.

•••

Should I go in or not?

Hamin stood in front of the stained glass door for a long time, he grabbed and released the handle. He had already come this far, so his hesitation was pointless, but he kept asking himself “Is this really a good idea?”

Should I just go back after all?

The moment he thought that and was about to release the silver handle…

“Oh, customer?”

A man in a black apron spoke from behind. As if he had just come back from the bathroom, he wiped his damp hands on his apron and easily opened the door that Hamin had been struggling with, gesturing for him to come in.

Ding.

Even when the doorbell ringed in a high-pitch, no one turned around. Or rather, it was more accurate to say there was no one there.

“…Well.”

“Not coming in? Did you make a reservation?”

“Uh.”

“Oh, no reservation! That’s fine, that’s fine. It’s just the right time, we’re free.”

It was obvious the place wasn’t only free today, but the man spoke like Hamin had come at the perfect time. He quickly took his bag, draped a gown over him, so fast there was no time to object.

Before he knew it, led by the man’s hand, Hamin sat in the chair in front of the mirror, watching with a strange expression as the man snipped scissors in the air. From the way he moved, it looked less like he would cut hair and more like he would cut off the whole head.

Before he could say anything, the scissors came right up to his hair. Unable to endure it, Hamin hurriedly spoke.

“I’m not a customer. I came… looking for a friend.”

Only then did the blades stop moving closer. Tilting his head sideways as if it were strange, the man gave an angle that was unusual in itself.

“Friend?”

“Yes.”

“Who’s your friend?”

“…ha.”

The faint murmur was barely audible, but the man hooked the scissors on his pinky and clapped his hands together.

“Ah! You two are friends? You don’t match at all! I just sent him on an errand, why didn’t you make an appointment and come together?”

“…It’s been a while since we met.”

“So you came without contacting him? That’s a problem, he’s on full duty until eight today.”

“Then I’ll wait outside.”

“But!”

Hamin was about to stand, but a strong hand pushed down on his shoulder and forced him back into the chair. His blank face reflected next to the man’s slightly crazed grin in the large mirror.

“If you let me touch up your hair, I’ll send him out.”

“I don’t have money.”

“I don’t take pocket change.”

His face made it clear that refusal was not an option, the man raised his scissors. Thinking this had gone wrong, Hamin saw the man suddenly snip off the back of his hair.

“Now, look forward, customer.” It seemed too late to undo it.

‎

‎

“Boss, the line for donuts here is too long, next time maybe you should go yourself…”

The bell chimed as someone stepped inside. Unlike the usual quiet, the hum of heating machines filled the salon.

Huh, there are customers for once.

The salon wasn’t in a busy district, and with the boss’s cutting tongue, there was little reason to seek it out. If it were him, he wouldn’t want to come either, to a salon where the boss said things like, “Wow, your head looks like a flower bed. It’s full of holes like something was planted and ripped out.”

Because of that, sometimes Hyunwoo wasn’t sure if he had gotten hired as a hairdresser or as the boss’s pastime companion.

Usually there were only two customers a month on average, but this month already three had come, and the one sitting now was the fourth. It was a record.

He set the donuts down on the messy corner of the desk, but the boss’s gaze wouldn’t leave the customer’s head. Maybe it was a rare customer he liked.

Even as Hyunwoo stepped closer, the boss didn’t seem interested in him at all. Only when he came right up beside him did the man sigh. Even with his eyes closed, his neat features looked composed.

No wonder the boss’s eyes turned.

But seeing the man with white chemicals smeared thickly on his hair under the heating machine, Hyunwoo felt déjà vu. Like he had seen him somewhere before.

He stared at the tightly closed eyes with a puzzled look. Finally the trembling lashes lifted.

The face that looked back was very familiar. Or rather, had been familiar.

“…It’s been a while.”

Hamin greeted him first with a face full of dissatisfaction. Hyunwoo’s mouth fell open.

Why is he here?

The boss, rubbing his chin beside Hamin, finally noticed his only employee standing there dumbfounded. Despite Hamin’s words, Hyunwoo’s face didn’t show joy. It seemed like they had some kind of interesting connection.

“Oh, Kim Hyunwoo, why didn’t you say something, sneaking around like that.”

“I did greet you.”

“Anyway, I borrowed your friend for a bit. Once this is done, you two can go out.”

“…Friend?”

“Not a friend? He said you were friends.”

Were he and Hamin close enough to be called friends?

Seo Hamin had called him a friend?

He didn’t believe it, Hyunwoo stared into the mirror at his own blank face. The black eyes avoided his gaze first, almost like he was embarrassed. He wondered for a moment if it was just someone who looked alike, he nervously looked around, the boss tapped his butt.

“Stop getting in the way and go eat donuts. The chocolate one’s mine.”

Still looking confused, Kim Hyunwoo sank into a sofa stained with bits of dye. Hamin’s face turned complicated as he watched him.

Until he saw the man cutting his bangs and spreading perm solution, Hamin had only been thinking, why am I even here? But once he faced Kim Hyunwoo, he felt embarrassed at his own impulsive decision.

He tried to justify it as the result of hearing too many people call him friendless, but it didn’t change anything. He had been provoked by kids barely twenty and had come to find Kim Hyunwoo on impulse. A childish reality he didn’t even want to admit.

Trying to cool his warming cheeks, he lifted his hands inside the gown and pressed them against both sides of his face. He immediately got scolded.

“Hey, you’ve got hair on your face.”

Feeling the soft sponge fussily sweep his cheek as if his face were some kind of subject, Hamin let out a resigned sigh. Whatever happens, happens.

To him it felt like an eternity. After washing his hair, it was straightened with a flat iron. His naturally wavy hair stuck out if not maintained, but he honestly didn’t care much about his hair. He had only started visiting a salon weekly after joining the law firm.

Now there was no need for that.

He had no interest in grooming his appearance. Clothes were the same. Except for a few shirts and knits he bought because they reminded him of Liriel, his wardrobe was filled with identical five-thousand-won shirts and three or four pairs of pants in neutral colors.

As the tugging on his scalp grew painful, he wondered whether to speak up, but before he could, the styling was finished.

“Ta-da! How is it, much better right? Wow, your looks really shine now.”

“Thank you.”

He didn’t know if it was really better or not, but since it was said to suit him, he gave a small nod. Seeing his face dip down and rise again above the white gown, the boss laughed.

“Hyunwoo’s friend, come often for your hair. I’ll give you the employee discount.”

“You don’t take money from employees.”

“Exactly, I mean I’ll do it for free.”

Watching the two banter in front of him, Hamin silently took off the gown. The boss was as strange as Kim Hyunwoo said.

‘I used to work at a salon near Sanggye Station back then… ah, it had a weird name, Shinnanda Shinnami Salon. But the owner there was super rich, didn’t care about the work, but treated people really well, so I built up some experience there and then opened this small salon…’

If not for Kim Hyunwoo’s words, Hamin might never have come this far.

He glanced at Hyunwoo’s face, flushed red now. The whole time he had been speaking, he fidgeted with his pockets, probably meaning to hand over a business card, but Hamin cut him off curtly with “just get to the point.”

It did seem rude.

“Ha, giving a perm after so long makes my arms hurt. Today’s business is done! Everyone off work! Okay, closing up now!”

Acting out both sides of the conversation, the boss picked up the donuts and pushed the two of them out.

Clack.

He locked the door.

“Hey, boss! My bag! You need to give me my bag before you kick me out. And his bag too!”

Pretending not to hear, cleaning his ear with his pinky, the boss finally went “ah” at the mention of the bags, then shoved the two bags that had been on the sofa out the door.

“Now go, I’m tired.”

As usual, Hyunwoo gaped at the boss’s high-handed behavior, but kept glancing at Hamin. His look said, there’s no way he’ll put up with this. But unexpectedly, Hamin just adjusted his bag strap and pressed the elevator button.

“What are you doing, aren’t you going?” What is he thinking?

Hyunwoo followed right behind, his mind tangled. After being in the boss’s hands, Hamin looked like some idol, his features standing out. Several passersby threw glances at him, but whether he noticed or not, Hamin just walked briskly.

“Hey…”

The low voice finally made him turn his head.

“Where are we going?”

“To eat.”

I already ate.

Unable to say it, Hyunwoo just nodded silently. Hamin stared at him, then suddenly stopped and stepped into a nearby cafe.

Didn’t he say we were going to eat?

Puzzled, Hyunwoo followed him. Watching his back as he ordered, he hesitated, then Hamin asked casually,

“Iced Ameri… no, never mind. Iced Earl Grey. What do you want?”

“Uh… chocolate latte? Cold.”

“That one, please. We’ll drink it here.”

“Yes, please insert your card at the front.”

“It’ll be out soon,” said the part-timer. They waited for the drinks, then carried them to a table.

Sitting across from him, Kim Hyunwoo wore a serious expression, lost in thought.

Hamin waited silently until Hyunwoo suddenly closed his eyes shut and blurted,

“If you’re selling heated mats or something… I’ll buy one!”

“…What?”

“You’re not here to sell mats?”

His confused eyes seemed to ask what reason could Hamin have to come find him. Blinking in disbelief, Hamin gulped down his cold drink.

“No.”

His short answer was filled with irritation. Hyunwoo scratched his head with an embarrassed face.

Then why did he come?

No matter how he thought about it, nothing came to mind. Maybe he got annoyed after leaving last time with curses still on his tongue.

Awkward, he rolled his eyes, not knowing where to look. Then he suddenly remembered something he had forgotten.

Come to think of it, Minjae really liked Hamin.

He recalled the boy’s clear face, always chattering about Hamin, searching for that Firecracker man or whatever. In an instant, a cloud shadowed his heart.

Busy with life, he often forgot, but Minjae was always his sore spot. A boy who laughed easily, found happiness in small things, and knew how to care for others had become a star far too soon.

He knew it had been unavoidable, but every time he remembered, his heart sank and sorrow weighed on him.

Hamin, watching Hyunwoo’s suddenly darkened face, realized what he was remembering. And what he was struggling with.

He hadn’t come to talk about this, but he couldn’t pretend not to know.

Trying to look as casual as possible, he asked flatly,

“Minjae’s dead, right?”

…How did you know?

Seeing Hyunwoo’s wide eyes, he answered,

“I heard it by chance.”

“So that’s why you came?”

Hamin stared at him. His shadowed face was covered in guilt.

From that expression and answer, Hamin realized Hyunwoo felt a heavy responsibility for Minjae’s death. His expression looked almost like he was waiting for punishment, and Hamin’s eyes twitched.

The Kim Hyunwoo he had met when nearing forty hadn’t been like this. Tired and worn, yes, but calmee, better than now. This Hyunwoo looked fragile, like he could be swayed by a small breeze.

Facing Hamin’s silence, Hyunwoo carefully began speaking.

“They said it was an incurable disease. I don’t even remember the name, but it was so rare, only one or two in tens of millions get it. The medicine costs were insane… but the orphanage, they didn’t want to deal with it. They knew Minjae had the disease and still did nothing.”